best spellin ever 'phat phingers' that has to be a name of a tshirt company somewhere in the world surely! :) - yeah i hear what ya saying about knowledge level. i don't care for exchanges, especially when they get hacked all the time! - i think people often are happy to pay premium like you say for less hassle.
i also think sometimes people just get onboard to see they have been through the experience you know than have an actual interest in it. they don't want to appear too 'geek' to their non-geeky friends :)